I recently watched a fascinating video where the MKBHD team played “desk setup bingo” while reviewing their colleagues’ home workspaces. What started as a simple game quickly transformed into an unexpectedly revealing look at how our desks reflect our personalities, priorities, and quirks.
As they moved from one workspace to another, I couldn’t help but notice how each setup told a unique story about its owner. Our desks are more than just functional spaces—they’re extensions of ourselves.
The team created bingo cards with items they expected to find: cats, anime items, mechanical keyboards, and more. But what they discovered went far beyond checking boxes on a game card.
The Spectrum of Workspace Personalities
The contrast between setups was striking. Marquez’s desk was minimalist and utilitarian—a pegboard with nothing on it, a Pro Display XDR, and just the essentials. His space reflected his no-nonsense approach to work.
Then there was Miles, whose “desk” was literally his BMW M4. With his laptop mounted inside the car and even an Apple Vision Pro for “triple productivity,” his setup was as unconventional as it was impractical. Yet it perfectly captured his personality—someone who values mobility, speed, and pushing boundaries.
What fascinated me most was how each workspace revealed something unexpected about its owner:
- Harper’s desk featured dozens of nail polish bottles—a hobby many colleagues didn’t know about
- Vin had created a mini professional studio space in his home
- Ellis maintained a vintage analog video setup that looked straight out of the 1970s
- Michael had a separate creative space for block printing alongside his computer workspace
These weren’t just desks—they were windows into hidden passions and priorities.
The Human Element
The most compelling workspaces weren’t necessarily the most expensive or technologically advanced. They were the ones that felt lived-in and personal.
Andrew’s setup stood out to me because, as one team member noted, “This is a desk. If I saw it, I would sit down and I would use this desk because it feels peaceful. It feels homey. It feels like an actual human is using this desk.”
That human element—the little imperfections, the personal touches, the signs of actual use—made certain setups feel more inviting than others. The most relatable workspaces weren’t showpieces; they were functional environments where real work happens.
What Our Workspaces Reveal About Us
As I watched the team explore each setup, I realized how much our workspaces reveal about our values:
- Functionality vs. Aesthetics – Some prioritized clean, minimal setups while others embraced creative chaos
- Work-Life Boundaries – Some spaces were purely functional while others integrated hobbies and personal interests
- Adaptation vs. Optimization – Some created highly customized environments while others made do with what they had
Alex’s setup, with its broken headphones and Wave XLR, basketball hoop, and “pile of assorted garbage,” showed someone who values function over form and doesn’t take himself too seriously. Meanwhile, Vin’s professional mini-studio setup revealed someone who brings studio-quality standards into his home environment.
The Surprising Absence of Cats and Funko Pops
Throughout the video, the team kept waiting for certain bingo items that never appeared. “I’m sad there’s no cat,” one team member lamented repeatedly. Another was shocked by the complete absence of Funko Pops across all desks.
These missing elements were as revealing as what was present. Despite expectations, not a single team member had the stereotypical “tech YouTuber” desk with the expected collectibles and pets.
The experience reminded me that we often make assumptions about what others’ private spaces look like based on their public personas. The reality is usually more nuanced and surprising.
After watching this video, I found myself looking at my own workspace with fresh eyes. What does it say about me? What hidden aspects of my personality does it reveal? And most importantly—what would my colleagues learn about me if they saw it?
Perhaps we should all play desk setup bingo more often. Not just for the game, but for what it teaches us about each other.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What were some of the most unique desk setups shown in the video?
The most unique setups included Miles’ BMW M4 car that functioned as his mobile office, Ellis’ vintage analog video equipment collection that looked like a 1970s studio, and Michael’s dual-purpose space that included both a computer workstation and a separate area for block printing artwork.
Q: What common items appeared across multiple desk setups?
Several items appeared repeatedly across workspaces, including Logitech MX Master mice, Audio-Technica headphones, IKEA furniture (especially Alex drawers), and various Apple products. Many team members also had some form of personal decoration that reflected their interests outside of work.
Q: What can we learn about someone from their desk setup?
A desk setup can reveal someone’s work style (minimalist vs. maximalist), their priorities (function vs. aesthetics), their interests outside of work (hobbies represented through decorations), and even their personality traits (organized vs. chaotic, practical vs. creative). The video showed how workspaces are deeply personal expressions of their owners.
Q: Why were the team members surprised by certain missing items?
The team expected to see certain stereotypical items like cats, Funko Pop figurines, and excessive RGB lighting that are common in tech and gaming setups online. Their surprise at not finding these items reveals how our expectations are often shaped by social media representations of workspaces rather than reality.
